On the morning of April 9, 2025, National Economics University (NEU), in collaboration with the Central Theoretical Council, organized a national scientific conference on “The two-tier local government model: The role of commune-level government—the new grassroots unit.”

An overview of the conference

Attending the conference from outside the University were Prof. Dr. Ta Ngoc Tan, Standing Vice Chair of the Central Theoretical Council; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Linh, Vice Chair of the Central Theoretical Council. Conference speakers included Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quoc Suu, Vice President of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Thi Hong Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of General Research, Central Commission for Internal Affairs; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Institute of Leadership and Public Policy. Also attending were leadership representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Central Organization Commission, the Central Commission for Internal Affairs, the Central Commission for Policy and Strategy, the Organization Commission of the Hanoi Party Committee, the Thai Binh Provincial People’s Committee, and the Department of Home Affairs; leadership representatives from urban and rural districts, communes, wards, and townships in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Bac Giang, Phu Tho, and Thai Binh; and experts and scholars from universities and research institutes across the country.

Representing NEU were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the University Council; Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President; Prof. Dr. Do Thi Hai Ha, Rector of the College of Economics and Public Management; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Vice Rector of the College of Economics and Public Management. Also attending were leadership representatives from colleges, administrative departments, faculties, schools, and centers; members of the conference committees; experts; scholars; and faculty and staff from across the University.

Prof. Dr. Ta Ngoc Tan, Standing Vice Chair of the Central Theoretical Council, delivers opening remarks at the conference

As the country enters a period of vigorous integration and development, the Party and the State are actively pursuing reforms to streamline the structure of local government, improve efficiency, and better serve the people. One important priority at present is to develop a two-tier local government model to replace the current three-tier model. Under the two-tier local government model, the new grassroots unit—the commune level—both performs state management functions and takes responsibility for directly providing many essential public services.

This model marks a significant shift in thinking on administrative organizational reform, meeting the requirements for staffing reductions, appropriate decentralization and delegation of authority, and improved local governance capacity.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the University Council of National Economics University, speaks at the conference

In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the University Council, emphasized that streamlining and reorganizing the political system under the two-tier local government model changes not only the scale but also the functions, duties, and role of commune-level government—the new grassroots unit. This has placed and continues to place new demands on all stakeholders, from cadres, civil servants, and public employees working in the new grassroots units to relevant administrative agencies, businesses, and universities.

In particular, the revolution in streamlining the apparatus of the political system in general and reorganizing the public administration system under the two-tier local government model is creating opportunities not only to restructure organizations and personnel for greater efficiency in state management agencies from the central to local levels, but also to expand the pool of high-quality human resources for organizations and businesses. It also offers opportunities to restructure courses, improve textbooks, and, especially, develop new academic programs for both those who remain in the public sector and those who move into private-sector employment.

Assoc. Prof. Bui Duc Tho, Chair of the University Council, expressed his hope that the reports distilled and sent to stakeholders after the conference would contribute to the effective implementation of the project to reorganize the administrative system under the two-tier government model, strengthen accurate understanding and consensus among stakeholders, and enhance their ability to seize opportunities in developing and implementing the two-tier local government model as a foundation for sustainable development in the new era—the era of the nation’s rise.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quoc Suu, Vice President of the Academy of Public Administration and Management, presents the paper “The two-tier local government organizational model: Theoretical foundations and experiences of selected countries around the world”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Thi Hong Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of General Research, Central Commission for Internal Affairs, presents the paper “Research and proposals for further reorganizing the apparatus of the public administration system under the two-tier local government organizational model”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Institute of Leadership and Public Policy, presents the paper “Requirements and issues facing commune-level human resources when implementing the two-tier government organizational model”

Prof. Dr. Do Thi Hai Ha, Rector of the College of Economics and Public Management, NEU, presents the paper “Reorganizing administrative units under the two-tier government organizational model: The role of universities and stakeholders”

Drawing on diverse perspectives, the conference provided a forum for scholars, administrators, policymakers, and representatives of localities to exchange views, analyze theoretical and practical aspects, and propose solutions to improve institutions and build a modern, efficient local government system that meets the country’s development requirements and aspirations to rise in the new era.

Conference delegates pose for a commemorative photograph

Some images from the conference:

Article and photos: Department of Communications

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.